Waiting for max:
A NICU STORY
Louise can’t wait to meet her new little brother, Max!
But Max was born earlier than expected, and has to stay in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until he’s strong enough to come home. Waiting is hard—really hard. So big sister Louise uses her BIG imagination to come up with her own creative plans to get Max home.
Inspired by my personal experience with my son in the NICU, this heartfelt picture book helps families navigate a challenging and often overlooked topic with warmth, empathy, and wonder. And at its heart is a reminder that no matter how long it takes, some things truly are worth the wait.
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"A hopeful family story."
– Publishers Weekly
"Relying on straightforward text laden with humorous kid logic, Rosen, the mother of a premature baby herself, reassures readers in situations like Louise’s that their siblings are 'worth the wait.'"
– Kirkus
"A warmly illustrated, heartfelt resource that combines comfort with information. . ."
– School Library Journal
“What an absolutely beautiful portrait of a families’ NICU experience. The illustrations are stunningly accurate and the incorporation of a sibling’s drawings is so in sync with developmental expectations of siblings, i.e. magical thinking and their wanting to understand and sometimes try to make things better. What a gift to NICU families.”
– Vanessa Ya Lopez, NICU Child Life Specialist, Stanford Children’s Hospital
"Waiting for Max is a book I wish every family and sibling experiencing a NICU journey could read."
– Ana Ribeiro, MD. Neonatal Critical Care Physician and Co-chair of the NICU Parents Advisory Council, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
"Emily Rosen handled such a tricky subject with so much warmth, humour and sensitivity."
– Emma Dodd, award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator
"I wish my family had this book when we needed it, but am so happy that it exists now for all the little Louises and their parents who are waiting not-so-patiently!"
– Molly Schaffer, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and NICU Mom
"Waiting for Max is the book that all parents should use when navigating their newborn's time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, especially when there are young siblings at home . . . It removes the fear and uncertainty of the unknown and gives young children solid ground in understanding the newest member of their family."
– James Fritzell Jr., MD, Medical Director NICU and Chairman of Pediatrics, Saint John’s Health Center
"As NICU parents, it’s rare to find a children’s book that captures the mix of worry, hope, and love so honestly, and in a way that feels gentle and comforting for siblings of NICU babies. Emily makes sure that siblings feel seen and included during a hard season, opening the door to conversations that you may not have otherwise known how to start. It’s warm, reassuring, and full of heart - a beautiful reminder that even in the NICU, families grow stronger together."
-- Martha Sharkey, Founder & CEO of the NICU support organization, Today is a Good Day
READERS’ PRAISE
Published by The Collective Book Studio - Distributed by Simon & Schuster. Available now!
I am donating books and some of the book’s proceeds to hospital NICUs and other NICU organizations.
PRESS
I’ve shared my story on podcasts, in publications and on TV. Here are links to just a few of them!
Women’s Wellness with Abbe Feder
Saint John’s Health Foundation Impact Report
SHARES
The book was loved and shared by dozens of NICU professionals, influencers who are NICU parents and book influencers.
EVENTS
I’d love to come to an event at your store, school, library, hospital or other organization. In addition to story time, I also do talks for kids and grownups. Here are a few topics and activities I focus on depending on the venue:
At hospitals, charities and maternal mental health organizations: My background and NICU story, the inspiration behind the book, and its impact on NICU families. Great for NICU staff, parents, women’s health and mental health professionals
At schools and libraries: NICU education, discussion of the feelings of waiting, creative thinking, how a book gets published.
Places where I’ve had past events: UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Zibby’s Bookshop, Diesel A Bookstore, Villagewell Books & Coffee, Copperfield’s Books, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library, The Motherhood LA, Life after Birth, Wilshire Blvd. Temple Early Childhood Center, Manhattan Academy, Maya Lin Elementary, The Carlthorp School.
Reach out at emilyrosencreative@gmail.com to discuss a future event!
BOOK GUIDE
With the Collective Book Studio, I’ve created a guide for teachers, librarians and parents who want to dive deeper into the book with their students or kids. It includes discussion questions, a NICU glossary and some fun coloring and writing activities!